The passage from Matthew presents Jesus grappling with demons who fear being cast out.

The unclean spirits unite against the true servants of God. Francis knew something about this.

The Sources recount what happened to him once when he was staying in Rome with Cardinal Leo of Santa Croce, who had wanted him to stay with him for a while.

"Proud demons flee before the exalted virtue of the humble, except in some cases where divine mercy allows the humble to be slapped, precisely to keep them humble, as the Apostle Paul writes of himself and as Francis experienced first-hand [...]".

The saint, having accepted the invitation out of veneration and love for the cardinal, experienced a veritable assault by demons on his first night after prayer. They beat him long and cruelly, leaving him half dead.

When they had gone, he called his companion and told him what had happened.

«Brother, demons have no power except within the limits set by Providence.

Therefore, I believe that they attacked me so fiercely because my stay in the curia of the magnates does not make a good impression.

My brethren who live in poor places, hearing that I am with the cardinals, will perhaps suspect that I am entangled in worldly things, being surrounded by honours and comforts.

I therefore judge that it is better for those who are set as an example to stay away from curias and spend their lives humbly among the humble, in humble places.

In this way, living in the same conditions as those who live in poverty, he will be a comfort to them».

So they went in the morning and, with humble excuses, took their leave of the cardinal” (FF 1115).

In the face of Grace, evil calls for reinforcements; but what defeats it, says Francis, is humility.

Therefore, even the «very furious» spirits (v. 28) can do nothing before the humility of the Son of God and his servants.

As it is written in the Sources [Sacrum Commercium]:

«For he (satan) is very proud, and his pride and arrogance are even greater than his strength.

He is filled with great fury against you and will turn all the weapons of his cunning against you, seeking to spatter you with the poison of his malice, because after he has ended the war by defeating and throwing down the others, he cannot bear to see you standing above him» (FF 2026).

Count on us that, after being saved, we will proclaim the mercy God has shown us. This devastates the deceiver!

Francis did this, attesting to the poverty of the Son of God, which, transferred to the folds of daily life, drags impure spirits down from the cliff into the sea of their contradictions, destroying them.

The holy life of Francis and his brotherhood in the early days made them heralds of Mercy, singers of the Almighty.

«Demons begged him, saying: If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs» (Mt 8:31)

Wednesday 13th wk. in Ordinary Time  (Mt 8:28-34)

In today's Gospel Jesus asks his own, in the storm at sea, for a supplement of faith.

«Why are you afraid, [men] of little faith?» (Mt 8:26).

Even to Francis, in certain situations of life, Jesus asked for a greater faith, free from fear, because on his boat besieged by the waves of temptation was He: Christ, the Great Helmsman.

In the Sources, in the Second Life of Celano, we find a lesson in this regard:

"At a certain moment of his life, the Father suffered a most violent temptation of spirit, certainly for the sake of his crown.

For this he was distressed and full of suffering, he mortified and macerated his body, he prayed and wept in the most painful manner. This struggle lasted several years.

One day, while praying in St Mary of the Portiuncula, he heard a voice in spirit:

«Francis, if you have faith as much as a mustard seed, you will tell the mountain to move and it will move».

«Lord - replied the saint - what is the mountain, which I wish to move?».

And the voice again:

«The mountain is your temptation».

«O Lord - replied the Saint in tears - let it happen to me, as thou hast said».

Immediately all temptation disappeared and he felt free and completely serene in the depths of his heart" (FF 702).

Entrusting himself to Jesus, the Poverello did not become shipwrecked in the storms of life, and with Grace he was able to overcome every serious obstacle.

Clare herself, faced with pressing dangers, found the way out in the Faith and urged her sisters to do the same.

This is attested in her Letter to Ermentrude of Bruges in which she says, among other things:

«Support adversity willingly, and pride not swell your heart in prosperous things; these call you to your faith, those require it».

Tuesday of the 13th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 8,23-27)

Francis of Assisi had great respect for the Church, which he considered mother, holy, catholic, apostolic, Roman:

«At the beginning of my new life, when I separated from the world and my earthly father, the Lord placed his Word on the lips of the bishop of Assisi, that he might counsel me wisely in the service of Christ and give me comfort.

For this reason and for the other eminent qualities that I recognise [...] I want to love [...] and consider as my lords not only the bishops, but also the humble priests» (FF 1562).

Furthermore, the Sources attest how Francis went with eleven companions to the Pope's Curia to inform him of his new and original plan of life and to obtain confirmation of the Rule he had composed.

We read: "Seeing that the Lord was increasing his brothers [...] he addressed the eleven of the group:

«Brethren, I see that the merciful Lord wants to increase our community.

Let us therefore go to our mother, the holy Roman Church, and communicate to the supreme pontiff what the Lord has begun to do through us, in order to continue our mission, according to his will and dispositions» " (FF1455).

He was thus presented to the supreme pontiff who begged Francis to ask God if that kind of life really corresponded to his will.

In obedience to his request, the Poverello, after long prayer, confirmed the holy intention as coming from God, convincing the Pope with a parable received by divine inspiration.

He embraced the saint and approved the Rule.

"Having received the blessing from Innocent III, they went to visit the tombs of the Apostles [...] Then the man of God set out from Rome with his brothers, heading for the evangelisation of the world" (FF 1460-1462).

On the other hand Francis, praying in front of the Crucifix of the church of San Damiano "which was threatening ruin, old as it was [...] he heard with the ears of his body a voice descending towards him and saying three times:

«Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is all in ruins!» "(FF 1038).

This referring not only and not so much to the walls as "to that Church which Christ purchased with his Blood, as the Holy Spirit would have him understand and as he himself later revealed to the friars".

(FF 1038).

Saints Peter and Paul Ap. (Mt 16:13-19)

Jesus is keen to emphasise the priority of the love due to Him, the acceptance of one’s own cross, as well as the hospitality shown to the little ones, even through the smallest of gestures.

From personal experience, the Poor Man of Assisi knew God’s magnanimity, for He is attentive to His children even when it comes to a glass of water offered in His Name to those who belong to Christ.

And with a burning faith, he lived out this truth.

The Sources recount an eloquent episode:

‘Francis, a man of God, stripped of worldly possessions […] devoted himself to serving God in every possible way.

Returning to the church of St Damian, full of joy and fervour, he fashioned himself a hermit’s habit and comforted the priest of that church with the very same words of encouragement which the bishop had addressed to him.

Then, returning to the city, he began to walk through the squares and streets, singing the Lord’s praises with a soul filled with joy.

As soon as he had finished his praises, he set about gathering the stones needed to restore the church.

He would say:

«Whoever gives me one stone shall receive a reward; whoever gives two stones, two rewards; whoever gives three, three rewards».

With ardent enthusiasm he made this and similar appeals, full of innocence, for this chosen one of God had a pure and childlike soul; he did not resort to the learned language of human wisdom, but was simple and direct in everything” (FF 1420).

He also feared causing offence to people and to his brothers, thereby dishonouring God.

Indeed, we read further:

“He often repeated to his companions:

«Herein lies my sorrow, my affliction: the guidance which, through intense prayer and reflection, I receive from God’s mercy for the present and future good of the brotherhood—and which God assures me is in accordance with his will—is thwarted by some friars, who, relying on their own arrogance and the light of their learning, say: These directives must be upheld and observed, but not these others».

But the Saint, as has already been said, feared scandal so much that he allowed many things to be done, and adapted himself to the will of his brothers, however much this went against his convictions” (FF 1632).

“He was troubled by the thought that, as often happens amongst the elect, there would be some who were puffed up in their carnal mindset, ready for strife and prone to scandal” (FF 609).

«And whoever gives even a single glass of fresh [water] to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, truly I tell you, they will not lose their reward» (Mt 10:42)

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A  (Mt 10:37–42)

Matthew tells us of the extraordinary faith of the centurion who, upon hearing of Jesus’ healing of his servant, believed without seeing.

The Lord then entered Peter’s house and healed his ailing mother-in-law and all the sick people brought to Him.

The Poor Man of Assisi, amongst the many gifts he received from on High, had a special love for the Proclamation of the Gospel, so that all might experience an encounter with Christ the Saviour, accompanied by many healings.

Indeed, we read in the Sources, in Celano’s First Life:

‘Amidst the decline into which the teaching of the Gospel had fallen—not in its details but in general—God’s Providence sent this man into the world so that, like the apostles, he might bear witness to the truth before all people.

And indeed he clearly demonstrated, through the Word and by his example, how foolish earthly wisdom was; and in short, under Christ’s guidance, he led people, through the ‘foolishness’ of his preaching, to authentic divine Wisdom” (FF 474).

Thanks to this close union with Christ, he performed many healings for those who turned to him.

Indeed: “A woman, who had been ill for many years and was completely bedridden, as soon as she had made a vow to God and to Blessed Francis, rose up healed and able to attend to all her duties.

In the town of Narni there lived a woman who, for eight years, had had a withered hand, which was completely useless. One day the Blessed Father appeared to her and, touching her ailing hand, restored it to working order, just like the other” (FF 558).

Thus the Lord worked wonders of every kind through his servant Francis.

«When Jesus came to Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and served him»  (Mt 8:14–15)

Saturday, 12th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 8:5–17)

Matthew portrays Jesus healing a leper, exhorting him not to tell anyone and to go to the priest with the prescribed offering.

Francis «the Minim» poured out on everyone the Gratuity received from Christ. A man of indomitable faith, he also embraced those who were excluded, going far beyond any judgement or stereotypical mentality.

In the Sources, the episode that makes him the guardian of the marginalised is of extraordinary beauty and special humanity.

We read:

"One day, while riding his horse across the plain at the foot of Assisi, he came across a leper.

That unexpected encounter filled him with horror.

But, thinking and reflecting that, if he wished to become a knight of Christ, he must first overcome himself, he dismounted from his horse and ran to embrace the leper and, as the latter extended his hand as if to receive alms, he handed him some money and kissed him.

Immediately he got back on his horse; but no matter how much he turned to look on all sides, and although the countryside stretched open all around, he could no longer see the leper in any way.

Therefore, filled with wonder and joy, he began devoutly to sing the praises of the Lord" (FF 1034).

"From then on he clothed himself in the spirit of poverty, an intimate feeling of humility and deep piety.

Whereas before he abhorred not only the company of lepers, but even seeing them from a distance, now, because of the crucified Christ who, according to the words of the prophet, took on the despicable appearance of a leper, he served them with humility and kindness [...].

He often visited the homes of lepers; he gave them alms generously and with great compassion and affection kissed their hands and faces" (FF 1036).

"He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying: «I want it: be cleansed!». And immediately his leprosy was washed away" (Mt 8:3)

Friday, 12th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 8,1-4)

In the passage proposed by the Liturgy of the day, Jesus calls us to concretely do his will, to be like a dwelling founded on his Rock, resisting rain and wind.

Brother Francis loved doing God's will deeply, so much so that it was his true consolation.

He was happy when he saw even among his brothers full adherence to the divine will, or at least repentance, where some act was a little reluctant.

The Sources, clear informants of authentic experience, document this and offer material for careful reflection.

"And they, receiving with great joy and gladness the precept of holy obedience, prostrated themselves before the blessed father, who, embracing them with tenderness and devotion, said to each one:

«Put your trust in the Lord and He will take care of you».

This phrase he repeated every time he sent some brothers to perform obedience" (FF 367).

The Poor Man of Assisi, even in the face of a great accumulation of evils and trials, testified to his incomparable adherence to the divine will, like another Job.

We read with emotion:

"But no matter how agonising his sorrows were, he did not call them sufferings, but sisters.

[...] And though exhausted by long and severe infirmity, he threw himself on the ground, beating his bones weakened in the crude fall.

Then he kissed the earth, saying:

«I thank thee, Lord God, for all these pains of mine, and I beseech thee, O my Lord, to give me a hundred times more, if it pleases thee so.

I will be most content, if Thou dost afflict me and spare me no sorrow, for to fulfil Thy will is for me exceeding consolation»" (FF 1239).

And when the time came for his departure:

"Lying on the earth, after having laid down his sackcloth, he lifted his face to heaven, according to his habit, totally intent on that heavenly glory, while with his left hand he covered the wound on his right side, that it might not be seen.

And he said to the friars: «I have done my part; may Christ teach you yours» (FF 1239).

Francis, the Little One of Assisi, drew good from his new heart. He had built his spiritual edifice on the Rock of Christ.

In fact, the Sources bring us an episode that testifies to this:

"After some months had passed, Francis was staying at the church of the Portiuncula, and was near the cell that rises after the house, along the street, when that friar returned to speak to him about the psalter.

Francis said to him: «Go, and do as your Minister tells you».

At these words, he began to return the way he had come.

But the Saint, who remained on the road, began to reflect on what he had said, and suddenly cried out after him:

«Wait for me, brother, wait for me!».

He went up to him and said:

«Come back with me, brother, and show me the place where I told you to do, concerning the psalter, what the minister will tell you».

When they arrived at that place, Francis bowed down before the friar and getting down on his knees said:

«My fault, brother, my fault! Whoever wants to be a minor must have only the cassock, the rope and the breeches, as the Rule says, and in addition the shoes, for those who are constrained by obvious necessity or illness».

To all the brothers who came to consult him on the subject, he gave the same answer.

And he used to say: «AS MUCH AS A MAN KNOWS, AS MUCH AS HE DOES; AND AS MUCH AS A RELIGIOUS MAN IS A GOOD PREDICATOR, AS MUCH AS HE HIMSELF ACTS» (FF 1628).

«Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord!" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven»  (Mt 7:21)

Thursday of the 12th wk. in O.T.  (Mt 7,21-29)

The Liturgy relating to the Birth of the Baptist examines a Lucan passage where the people's question, faced with this event, is:

«What then will become of this child?» (Lk 1:66).

Like the Baptist, Francis was also called John at the baptismal font.

We find clues of recall in his life so particularly prophetic and, between the folds of his meagre existence, we discover admirable vocational assonances with the Friend of the Bridegroom.

The Sources help us in this regard.

In them we read:

"The servant and friend of the Most High, Francis, was given this name by divine Providence, so that by his originality and novelty the fame of his mission might spread more easily throughout the world.

His mother had called him John, when he was reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, and from a son of wrath had become a son of grace*.

A mirror of righteousness, that woman presented in her conduct, as it were, a visible sign of his virtue.

In fact, she was made to share, as a privilege, a certain resemblance to the ancient Saint Elizabeth, both in terms of the name she bestowed on her son, and also in terms of her prophetic spirit.

When neighbours expressed their admiration for Francis' generosity of spirit and moral integrity, she would repeat, almost divinely inspired:

«What do you think he will become, this son of mine? Know that by his merits he will become son of God».

[...] Therefore, the name of John corresponds to the mission he then carried out, that of Francis to his fame, which soon spread everywhere after his full conversion to God.

Above the feast of any other saint, he held that of John the Baptist to be most solemn, whose distinguished name had imprinted in his soul a sign of arcane power.

Among those born of women there arose none greater than this, and none more perfect than this among the founders of religious orders" (FF 583).

Francis put all his enthusiasm into understanding and realising the promptings of Grace: to announce the perfection of the Gospel, preaching penance to all, with simplicity.

And since for the Poverello the voice of the smallest, in the fraternity, had the same weight as the voice of the great, indeed it was privileged, in the Spirit, for that priority given to the smallest by the Gospel, the Lord took him at his word for that he made himself the least in everything and among everyone.

«Often the Lord manifests what is best to the least» (Reg. c. IV. 18).

In him was realised the admirable wisdom of the Gospel, namely that in heaven, despite the greatness of the Baptist, the smallest is greater than he!

* Francis was baptised in the church of Santa Maria del Vescovado. The baptistery was later moved to the cathedral of San Rufino, where it still stands today.

Nativity of St John the Baptist  (Lk 1:57-66.80)